A/65/154 2. Half of all recorded computer crimes involve unauthorized access to computer information. Computer crime for profit is growing, as is the material damage it causes. The number of crimes committed by transnational hacker groups is also growing. 3. Computer crimes are rarely reported and efforts to determine the full extent of such crimes are usually frustrated, as the government and business entities that fall victim to such attacks always try to hide that fact, so as not to risk losing their authority, and they are reluctant to reveal the losses suffered and the weakness of their information protection systems. As a result, cases of such crimes are often not reported, which speaks to the need to develop concerted prophylactic and preventive measures, which should be at the core of information protection systems. 4. A computer crime is usually only the first step in a series of criminal acts, like the traditional types of crime, namely, theft, extortion, fraud and so forth. These crimes are constantly becoming more sophisticated and hidden and their execution improving, causing huge economic and political harm in practically all countries of the world. Furthermore, most experts see a direct link between the information sovereignty of States and matters of national security. 5. Efforts to combat crime in the field of information technology encounter many problems of a legal nature resulting from the non-material and frequently ephemeral nature of computer evidence. The complex issues involved in dealing with the problems encountered in cybercrime make international cooperation even more necessary. For that reason all countries must in the end establish appropriate and mutually compatible legal, procedural and normative tools. 6. In practice the investigation of computer crime has shown the imperative need for cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of States. 7. In international practice joint measures are usually taken to investigate computer crime. The Ukrainian Security Service participates actively in joint operations by law enforcement agencies and special services as part of efforts to combat child pornography, fraud perpetrated via the Internet and international terrorism. 8. Furthermore, there is a need to strengthen efforts aimed at further developing cooperation in the provision of information security, protecting shared interests and introducing steps for their protection, mainly in the form of bilateral and multilateral agreements. A successful solution to the problems of information security can be found only if there is effective cooperation between the government bodies of the various States, especially since the required legal basis is already in place. 9. Given the need to combat the threats of cybercrime and cyberterrorism, the Ukrainian Security Service maintains contacts with the law enforcement agencies and special services of foreign States. 10. It should be pointed out that cybercriminals often select as their targets networks established by government offices. Furthermore, the success of efforts to track down and punish criminals depends on the quality of the international links that are established and on the optimization of national legislation to meet current standards. 11. Bearing in mind the continuous global growth in computer crime, the existence of links between criminal hacker groups in various countries and the fact that 10-45842 11